28 on Keg

Bristol City U23 1 v Sheffield United U23 2

U23 Professional Development League

Played at Ashton Gate

Monday 14 August 2017

Twitter @ball_sup

The opening game of the U23s League campaign for the Young Blades. Last season (2016/17) fizzled out towards the end. We were theoretically in contention for a long time. But, we eventually finished seventh (of ten). Twelve wins & six draws from 28 games. On 42 points, we were only six points behind Hull City who qualified for the Play Offs in second place. But, in a tight division, that felt a long way back. Sheffield Wednesday won the North Division with fifty points. And went on to beat Hull in the Play Off Final. (After beating Millwall in the SFs).

Burnley have climbed up to our level this season. That means 11 teams in the North Division. Playing each other home & away. To give 20 games. And we also play each of the ten teams in the South Division once. To give a 30 game season. The 2017/18 Rules aren't publicly available as yet. But, assuming they're a roll forward of the 2016/17 Rules. Each club is required to play a minimum of FIVE games on their main ground. In our case, at The Lane. Our remaining home games will be played at Stocksbridge.

(On main grounds), the U23 Blades are scheduled to play at;

Ashton Gate (tonight) v Bristol City
Portman Road v Ipswich Town
St Andrews v Birmingham City
Hillsborough, Sheffield 6
Loftus Road v QPR
Vicarage Road v Watford
The Valley v Charlton

New boys Burnley will play some of their home games at Tameside Stadium, home of Curzon Ashton.

On a personal note, there are some new grounds for me to watch an SUFC XI, all teams, all ages, all competitions.

Lancashire FA Ground (v Bolton)
North Ferriby United (v Hull City)
Alfreton Town (v Nottingham Forest)
My 200th ground is out there somewhere.

That was a thoroughly entertaining day. A ding dong twisty turny game. Ending in a Young Blades win. A Brewery Tap not ten mins from the turnstile. A hipster keg bar with 17 on. And a late night cellar bar to top it all off.

United were just about worth that opening win. But, Bristol City came on very strong in the second half. At times, they battered us. By common consent, Semple, Slater, Smith, Mallon are all still out injured. No Jake Wright Jnr here either. So, that does feel like a weakened side. Adding to that, tonight's Skipper Harvey Gilmour went off a minute into the second half.

Gilmour is one of those players who shouts & organises. He's upped that as Skipper. To my untrained eye, it looks like the coaching staff & his colleagues trust him. No one is trying to shut him up. And, there seem very few cross words. He continued to receive treatment on the bench. And then effectively settled into a coaching role alongside Travis on the bench. Trav just had him on volume, but it was close.

Harvey had a great chance early on. At the time, I felt he should have scored. But, he did get a great goal after 34 mins. Jake Bennett had set up as right wing back. With Ferguson, Graham & Cantrill as the three. And Rhys Norrington-Davies over on the left. But, with much encouragement from the bench, Jake & Rhys were popping up all over the gaff. So, all a blur, but Bennett turned up in the inside left channel. Fast, accurate square & Gilmour with a powerful side foot past the keeper. Lovely goal.

More or less immediately, Jordan Hallam made it two from the spot.

Emphasising how keen they were to get the wing backs forward. At one point, Bennett surged down the right, put a deep cross in. And it was Rhys N-D on the end of it. He got a fairly good nut on it, but didn't really trouble the keeper.

David Parkhouse lead the line very well. Dewhurst was picking him out with goal kicks & dead balls. He was winning the headers. Neat little flicks, with Hallam, Greaves, Doherty & the wing backs coming through on them. Caused City no end of problems. At one point, former main squeeze Diego De Girolamo complained to his newer colleagues “they're winning every ball”. Parkhouse also found space & wriggled free of his marker a few times and got good shots off from outside the box.

Those two late first half goals just about reflected United's dominance in that half. But, City had their moments. Including hitting a post.

Second half. Different story. Made for a great game. Dewhurst had to make an excellent point blank save. Some desperate backs to the wall stuff. Hoofed clearances not even remotely aimed at a man. Reshuffles. Four at the back. But, still maintaining some attacking threat. Cantrill, RND & Bennett taking turns in midfield & popping up in the box. Bennett had one (more) surging run off the left (yes, left) wing & could have scored.

Diego got more into the game & had efforts off both feet. He was causing problems. United just looked more disorganised. Diego was brought down in the box on 58 minutes. And banged the penalty home. And, then it was hang on & get it done. Enthralling game. Loved it.

Small Bar, Bristol. I've counted just two on cask. But, a resounding seventeen on keg. It can all come down to definitions. But, NO MACROS. For eg, “Lager” was from Williams Brothers & Lost & Grounded. A lot of Bristol & local brewers up there on the board. Salute.

Left Handed Giant Brewing Co, APA on keg at 5.7%. Great beer. Quite gentle. But a lot going on. Very well balanced. The sweetness & the bitterness both linger. Some tropical & mandarin stuff going on.

Bristol Beer Factory Tap Room. Not ten minutes walk from Ashton Gate. Four of their own on cask. Three of their own on keg. And, Lost & Grounded Keller Pils. Great place (again).

Bristol Beer Factory, Nova on cask at 3.8%. Refreshing simple hopped session beer. Does what it says on the tin. A little boiled sweet comes through later on. The bitterness holds its own against that though.

The Beer Emporium. Off licence upstairs. Cavernous cellar bar down. Seven pukka keg & your Belgians & Germans. Eight cask.

Moor, Illusion (session strength Black IPA) on keg at 4.5%. A lovely end to a great football & beer day.

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